New on the block

Road Trip

Monse's POV:
That night we all sleep over at Ruby's. They take the floor and tell me to sleep on the couch. "So, how are we going to convince Olivias parents?" I ask breaking the silence. I know everyone's awake and we just doesn't know what to say. "Well it should help that Monse and Ruby go, right? Because then you guys can say how safe you feel and..." Jamal pauses mid sentence not really sure what to say next. "Guys, don't be disappointed when my parents make me stay in Mexico. There's no plan or bribe good enough for my parents. They risked never seeing me again because they thought I'd be safer here." Olivia says as she sits up. "What about survivor's guilt? We can explain how we're the ones who got shot and how Ruby protected you." I suggest. "Yeah, that could work. Maybe they'll see that she has a group of supportive friends who keep her safe." Cesar adds. He gets up and sits on the end of the couch by my feet. "I don't know, but you guys can try whatever you want. I should probably just get some sleep." Olivia sighs as she picks up her pillow and her blanket. She goes off into her room and we just sit and stare at each other. "Ruby, maybe you should go in and check on her." I suggest. He stands up and walks over to her room and now it's just the three of us. "Ok, so when the plan fails how do we help Ruby? He's going to resent me for the rest of our lives and he's going to be depressed about Olivia leaving." Cesar says once we here the room door close again. "We need to be there for him... even if he doesn't want you around, your his best friend." Jamal says sweetly. "I know, but he-" I cut Cesar off. "Imagine if you'd lost me because of something Jamal or Ruby did. You would be pissed but you'd need them. It's the same thing of course he'll be mad and maybe even hate you but he still needs you." I say. "Monse's right, Ruby really likes Olivia and it's not like Mario's around all the time to help him through this." Jamal agrees. "Ok so we all agree, when the plan fails we need to be there for Ruby no matter what he says." I say. They both nod and it's back to silence.

**Next morning**
We wake up at six thirty and Olivia and Ruby are both ready to go. "I can't believe this might be the last time I'm in this house." Olivia's eyes start to water as she looks around. "Ok, I'll wait outside." Olivia says as she grabs a couple bags of clothes and looks down. "We'll be ready in a few minutes just make sure she's ok." I say with a sorry half smile. We all cram in the car and it's not as dramatic and emotional as I thought it would be. We listen to our favorite songs and laugh about the stupid things we've all done together or fought about.

Cesar's POV:
"I can't believe I wasted all that time hating you." Olivia tells Monse. "I know, I wish we could've just been friends from the start." Monse laughs. The song we were listening to ends and Changes starts playing. "Skip the song." Monse says as she pulls my phone out of my hand and just skips it herself. "Only happy memories." She mumbles. "It wasn't all happy though but you guys helped me through it. I want to remember the bad times to because it only makes me love you guys that much more." Olivia smiles. "I just have one question." Jamal shifts in his seat so he's facing his friends. "How did you know you like Ruby?" Jamal asks. "Oh that's easy. I had just found out Cesar had cheated on me with Monse..."

*Flashback*
"Hey where's Cesar?" Olivia says as she sits at the table. "I don't know him and Monse were acting kinda weird." Jamal says. "Like what?" Olivia asks. "They were like half an inch from each others face it was so-" "Shut up Jamal they had business to take care of!" Ruby cuts in. "I'm gonna go call him I'm sure it was nothing." Olivia smiles. She walks into her room and Ruby follows her. "It's ok, they just got a lot of baggage." Ruby says as they sit on her bed. "That's the thing... I don't care. I should care that he walked off with his ex and didn't tell me but I don't." Olivia says with tears in her eyes. "I just don't get it. Cesar doesn't make me feel how I thought I'd feel." Olivia mumbles. "That's ok though. We're in high school this is the time to try things out and if they don't work then they don't work. I got you though, Monse's nice and everything but your the real princesa." Ruby smiles. In that moment Olivia realized her relationship didn't make sense and Ruby saying a couple words made her feel more than weeks with Cesar did. "I have to go break up with him." "You don't have to rush it. Maybe it's just a rough patch." Ruby points out. "No, I think I have feelings for someone else in the group." Olivia says with a smile.
*end of flashback*
"We didn't really do anything." Monse tries to defend herself. "But his feelings were always with you it's worse then kissing someone. Besides my heart was always with Ruby." Olivia smiles as she kisses him and it's still weird to see my ex kiss one of my best friends. "I think the fact that I'm the least problematic and most helpful person in this crew should get me some kind of award." Jamal says and just laugh. "He's not wrong." Monse shrugs. "Ok fine, when we all get back, and I do mean all of us,  we'll let Jamal pick the movie." I say and Olivia and Monse share a look. "Right, they're new. I haven't picked a movie since I forced them to watch a documentary on pigeons in the fifth grade." Jamal tells the girls. "Everyone, give me your passports." Ruby's Abuela says. We look straightforward and see that we're at the border. It's almost time to act like there's still hope.